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	PAGE ONE :: WORLD NEWS :: SPECIAL REPORT :: FIJI
	CDNN SPECIAL REPORT :: FIJI - From Paradise to Pariah According to the tourism industry hype, Fiji is "The Way the World Should Be" thanks to its beautiful garden isles and friendly, happy-go-lucky natives welcoming tourists to a balmy sun-drenched paradise. In reality, Fiji is the way the world should NOT be. Just behind the picture-perfect tourist fantasy facade of white sand beaches, palm trees and upscale, ocean-front resorts is a deeply troubled society torn apart by racism, violence, crime, poverty, corruption, nepotism and a series of military coups -- four in the past two decades -- that have aggravated racial tensions between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians, sparked civil unrest and lawlessness, and severely damaged Fiji's fragile economy. The most recent coup, in which military commander Frank Bainimarama took over the country on December 5, 2006, threatens to further destabilize Fiji.  Previous coups sought to disenfranchise Indo-Fijians who dominate the economy.  This time, the fight is between ethnic Fijians and the fallout could be even worse than the loss of over 60 percent of Fiji's doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers and other skilled workers who have voted with their feet and left the islands for better lives far away from Fiji's racist "paradise". Click on graphic, go to timeline CDNN FEATURE REPORTS FROM PARADISE TO PARIAH - Apartheid Fiji INTERVIEW - George Speight CDNN NEWS REPORTS 2008 Paradise in the red - Fiji 2007 Tourist arrivals down, tourism industry profits decline Air Pacific cutting flights after sharp decline in bookings Desperate resorts cut rates in half 2006 US cuts aid, imposes sanctions on coup-crippled Fiji Fiji's tourism industry takes a dive Resorts deserted, tourist arrivals down 90% The way the world should never be: Fiji Commonwealth suspends Fiji after coup Military coup likely to ruin Fiji's economy Fiji resorts 'dead empty'--all bookings cancelled Here We Go Again: Fiji Coup #4 Fiji coup leader declares state of emergency Military takes control of Fiji, PM 'dismissed' Military coup under way: Fiji PM refuses to resign Commander Coup: Fiji's fuse burns fast Fiji army disarms police, sets up roadblocks Fiji military likely to take over government tomorrow UK warns tourists not to travel to Fiji Pacific island nation in chaos as rival leaders claim control Military commander Bainimarama 'deranged' and 'unstable' says PM Suva quiet as deadline passes Coup imminent: Fijians brace for high noon Tourist cancellations surge amidst fear of Fiji military coup Australia warns tourists not to travel to Fiji Trouble in paradise: Tourism meltdown leads to mass layoffs 2005 Military commander threatens to remove Fiji government 2004 Tensions high after Fiji Vice President found guilty of treason 2003 FBI report says corruption behind coup 2002 Coup leader, Speight, sentenced to hang to death 2001 CDNN removes Fiji from Cyber Diver Alert travel warnings Coup leader, Speight, expelled from Parliament Labor senator says coup was Fiji's darkest hour Racist prime minister defies constitution New PM echos Speight's racist agenda Nationalist hardliner Qarase sworn in as new PM Polls close, vote count to begin on Monday Special military police unit will protect new government Fiji voters go to polls to decide leader of racially divided nation Racist coup leader jumps into Fiji's general election Fiji tourism takes a 41 percent dive following racist violence, coup Soldiers called in after protestors shut down airport Dive more, spend less with Fiji's Ovalau Watersports Racist George Speight will stand trial for treason Fiji Red Cross director under pressure not to testify Australian Red Cross director murdered in Suva Amnesty International condemns caretaker government Fiji's caretaker government sets date for new elections US condemns Fiji's unconstitutional political maneuver We don't need tourist money says Fiji government official Fiji chiefs reshuffle deck--deal same old cards Fiji's illegal army-backed government quits Suva calm after judges tell interim government to step down Summary of judgement against army-backed government Fiji Court of Appeal rules against army-installed government Security tight after Fiji bomb threats Fiji's army-backed government likely to lose legal battle Attorneys charge Fiji's army-backed government with racism Court of Appeal to decide Fiji's future Trouble Ahead for Pacific Pariah Judge rules against motion to stop trial 2000 Military lifts 7-month curfew Commonwealth demands speedy return to democracy Fiji High Court rules interim government illegal Eight dead, 30 wounded after soldiers mutiny Indo-Fijians to be excluded from political office Apartheid destroying economy Speight ordered back to prison Will racist rebel leader George Speight go free? Speight must wait--no deal for accused terrorist Armed natives seize another Fiji tourist resort "Spirit of Fiji" sags under apartheid Speight, 16 rebels charged with treason Aussies praise Fiji sanctions Speight to be charged with treason No bail--Speight sent back to island prison Soldiers kill Speight supporter Fiji brain drain--Indo-Fijians vote against apartheid with their feet Fiji Scuba Diving Association downplays violence Fiji tourism decimated by violence, lawlessness Racist rebel leader Speight sent to island prison Nadi flights canceled--tourists struggle to get out Rebels hijack Air Fiji plane, take over airport Military arrests Speight, rebels threaten civil war Angry natives seize Fiji tourist resorts Hostage crisis over, political crisis just beginning Armed natives seize Forbes Laucala resort Military backs down as rebels demand control of government Armed natives seize Fiji Turtle Island Resort Violence, looting spread across Fiji islands Tribalism, racism push Fiji to brink of civil war Rebels take 30 more hostages, shut down road to airport Violence spreads to Vanua Levu Military appoints new prime minister to head interim government Deadline passes as military cuts off rebels Military plans to take over Fiji for two years Speight, rebels watch TV soccer match Racism in paradise cripples tourism industry Rebels release four female hostages Speight reneges on deal--no hostage release Military caves in to Speight's demands Accord to be signed tomorrow Hostages to be released after 36 days in captivity Hostages could be released soon Speight, military agree on new president Sheraton resort shuts down as Fiji's economy collapses Military, police end siege after natives take over police station Commonwealth ministers will exclude Speight from meeting Military, rebels resume talks to release hostages Military will bar Speight from new government Did Fiji's military try to assasinate Speight? Indo-Fijians flee homes to escape racist attacks Anti-coup march canceled after rebel supporters threaten violence Coup supporters burning, looting Suva's stores Soldiers, rebels exchange shots Tourism industry on verge of collapse Commonwealth partially suspends Fiji Military leaders stand fast--Speight must go Military leaders reject rebel demands Speight issues new demands Cancellations cripple Fiji's tourism industry Speight says no deal--soldiers fire on looters wounding one Speight cuts deal, chiefs to decide future Speight calls the shots Speight rejects army choice for prime minister Resorts start laying off staff as occupancy rate plummets Military seizes power, imposes martial law Shooting breaks out between rebels, military Chiefs want racist constitution Chiefs condemn coup, Speight remains defiant Chiefs will try to settle political crisis Rebels threaten to kill Fiji's Prime Minister Interview with racist rebel leader George Speight Rebels demand PM, Cabinet resignations Rebels storm Fiji parliament   CDNN TOP NEWS STORIES
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